Immunologic tests in the prognosis of solid malignant tumors

: Survival at 6, 12 and 24 months was studied in relation to the immunological findings before treatment and its variations after treatment in 600 patient and its variations after treatment in 600 patients with solid malignant tumours. Any change in any of these tests is a sign of poor prognosis proportional to the degree of this change. The most precise prognosis is given by an association of these tests. These two year survival rate for tumours without apparent spread was 87% if the tests were normal, 43% if one group of tests was disturbed and 11% if two groups of tests were abnormal. With local or regional spread, the survival was 52% in cases with normal tests, 12% if one group was disturbed, and 4% if both groups of tests were abnormal. With multiple metastases, the survival rates were respectively 24%, 4% and 0%. Thus the prognosis is less unfavourable for a tumour with general spread and normal immunological tests (24%) than for a localised tumour with a disturbance of two groups of immunological tests (11%). These immunological tests carried out before any treatment are thus very valuable in prognosis, independant of the apparent extension of the tumour. This indications are important in deciding on treatment.